Mustafa Şentop, President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), met with parliamentary reporters and journalists at the TBMM Ceremony Hall before the new legislative year. Şentop, who shared the numerical data of the past years, drew a new framework for the questions on social media regulation.
"MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANY" WARNING IN SOCIAL MEDIA LAW
Expressing that the social media issue in question is among the new issues of all countries, Şentop stated that he did not agree with the criticisms of the ‘freedom of expression’ regarding the bill that will come to the agenda of the Parliament again. Şentop also stated that ‘the issue of multinational companies, which do not recognize the legal order, should also be put on the agenda,’ and shared his views on the possibility of making additions to the draft laws in this field. Şentop said, “Multinational companies have activities and studies that carry risks that may harm democracy, human rights and freedom of expression.”
ANSWERED WITH NUMBERS TO THE CRITICISMS
Responding to the criticisms that in recent years the TBMM could not fulfill its supervisory authority, Şentop shared with the public the number of written questions submitted by the deputies on this issue. Şentop stated that in the 27th legislative term alone, over 73,500 questions have been submitted in total, and noted that this is the highest figure in history. Şentop pointed out that the 27th Term was a record-breaking period in terms of the number of written questions submitted to the Speaker of the Parliament. “This record will reach even higher numbers with the parliamentary questions to be submitted to the Presidency of the Parliament in the 6th Legislative Year,” he added.
STRONG REACTION TO PRESIDENT OF THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PELOSI
Reacting to the visit of the President of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to Armenia in the past few days, Şentop criticized that the speaker of the parliament of a country, which is a member of the MINSK group established within the OSCE, made such a visit for the first time in this period and in its history. Şentop said, “While we strive to establish peace in this region, I would like to draw attention to the provocative and crisis-escalating visit of my colleague, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to Armenia recently. Unfortunately, this visit will not serve a purpose other than to encourage Armenia, which ignores the UN Security Council resolutions and is described as an occupier in many resolutions of the UN Security Council, OSCE, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, to exhibit such behaviors contrary to international law. ”
“THE PARLIAMENT CAN ALWAYS ACT ON THESE ISSUES”
Şentop was asked about the 'bill', which was asked based on Greece's landing of US military battleships on the islands and its provocative statements in the recent period, Şentop gave the example of the Libyan bill being passed by the Turkish Grand National Assembly in a short time, and underlined that Turkey will protect its rights and the law in all areas. Şentop said, “The bill is being prepared by the government and is coming to the Parliament. When it comes to the motion, I can make evaluation. However, there are very important and hot developments in the region we live in. Turkey has the legal infrastructure to take every step to protect its rights and interests both in the Blue Homeland and within its land borders. Turkey has the power to eliminate all kinds of threats against it. Parliament can always take action on these issues.”